Hoisting apparatus



2. E. COLBY HOISTING APPARATUS MayJZZ, 1923.

Filed Feb. 11.1921 SSheets-Sheet 1 l l 4 l l I 1 l l l l I I I INVENTOR.

MW 22, m3. 1,45%,488

z. E. COLBY HOISTING APPARATUS File l F421:- 11, 1921 3 Shams-Sheet 5 Patented May 22, 1923.

UNWE STTE ZENAS E. COLBY, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

HOIS'IING AIIRARA'ITU' S.

Application filed February 11, 1921. Serial No. 444,089.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, ZENAS F CoLBY, a citizen of the United States of America, residin at Bay City, in the county of Bay and 'tate of Michigamhave invented "certain new and useful'lmprovements' in Hoist-- ing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hoisting apparatus, and especially to the kind used in hoisting coal, gravel and other similar materlal into a coaling station, storage bin or the like, from which it is usually discharged by gravity into cars or other conveyances.

One object of the invention is to provide a hoisting' apparatus which is of durable and simple construction,and which is positive in its operation, insuring the proper loadlng, dumping, and operating of the different parts, this is a very essential feature in ho1st ing apparatus of this nature.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which will enable the hoisting bucket to descend into the loading pi't'and be automatically loaded, and move upwardito be discharged in -the tower of the station. p A further object is to provide a novel closing means for the mouth or discharge opening inthe hopper, which is adapted to be opened by the weight of the bucket, and automatically closed when the bucket is raised, being held in position by means of a counter-weight.

A still further object of the invention is to attach thebale to the bucket proper in such manner that the said bucket can be tilted to a very sharp angle thereby insuring all of the material being discharged from the bucket very quickly.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly ointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes. may be made in theform, size, proportion and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bucket in position to receive its load from the hopper,

the pit and hopper being shownin cross section, and showing in dotted lines "the bucket:

being hoisted intothetow'er'.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the parts in different position and showing the means for tilting the bucketfoi'discharging its load into a bin or the like.

Fig. 3 isa top plan view of the gate for closing the mouth 'or discharge-openingin the material hopper.

Fig. 4 is a detail" view showing the inner side of one of the gate supports.

Fig. 5' is a side elevation'of proper.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, I have provided a concrete storagebin or hopper linto which the material to be hoisted 'isdumped from cars or other conveyances, this hopper is'provided with a discharge opening or chute 2 opening into the loading pit 3, and is normally closed by means of the curved gate 4having the spaced apart side portions 5 integral therewith, the free ends of which are pivotally .secured at 6'to the supports 7, which are in this instance 'securedto the wall of the pit by means of bolts or the like, cables 8 are anchored to either side ofthe gate at the point 9 and are trained over a sheave lO secured tothe'wall of the pit in any approved manner, thence up a'ndover another she'av'eand having a counte'r we'ight (not shown) secured to the end thereof for normally holding the gate in closed position.

The gate is further provided 'with a stop 11 riveted to the inner surfac e of the gate, the. free end being bent as shownan'd' is adapted to engage the shoulder 3 of'the pit to prevent'the counter weight swinging the gate too'far, this also serves as a gauge for the bucket and insures the mouth thereof being indirect alinementwith the discharge opening of the hopper when in loading position as shown in Fig. 1, the downward swing g bumper 12 secured in the pit.

The customary tracks or ways 13 are secured to the'sides of the pit and hoisting tower inthe usual manner, and can be a pair of angles placed back to back, as shown in the present instance or other-member's of suitable form adapted to form 'guides' to guide the bucket may be employed, a dethe bucket of the ate being limited by then Y K fleeting plate 14 being secured in the top of the tower for tilting the bucket to discharge the load therefrom.

The side members of the gate are slightly curved being spaced to receive the bucket between them and are provided with seats 15 formed on the upper edge thereof, adapted to receive the bale of the bucket in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

The bucket proper I have indicated by the numeral 16 and is of the type usually used in work of this nature, the bottom being hoppered and the top or mouth being formed with a radius, the same as the gate. A sheave or roller member 17 is revolubly secured near the upper edge of the bucket, engaging the cable 8 when the bucket is being loaded, and engaging the ways formed inthe deflector plate 14: for tilting the bucket and discharging the load.

The usual bale 19 is secured to the bucket as shown a flexible connection (not shown) being connected to the bale and trained over a sheave in the top of the tower, thence being connected to the source of power, the

a yoke being provided with guides 20 adapted to engage the track 13 at all times, the side members extend downwardly and are pivotally connected to the bearing 21 integral with the bucket, a flat strap member 22 being mounted on the bearing 21 and extending downwardly to the pin member 23 to which is also secured the member 24, the opposite end of which is rigidly secured to the bucket, guide members 25 similar to the guides at the top of the bale are carried by this pin 23 and engage the track in a similar manner, and while I have shown thestrap 22 and the member 24. of separate pieces, it will be readily understood that they can be formed of one piece if desired.

I wish to direct particular attention to the pivoting point of the bale, which is below the center of gravity of the bucket, and also to the fact that the member 22 is spaced from the bucket toallow it to straddle the side members of the gate when in loading position.

The member 26 is also rigidly secured to the side of the bucket as shown and is formed with laterally extending hub portions 27 and 28 integral therewith, and when the bucket is lowered into the pit preparatory to being loaded, the hub 27 enters the socket 29 formed on the inner surface of the support 7, and forms an axis or pivot for the bucket to swing on, the hub 28 swinging in the curved path 30 also formed in the support 7, and preventing displacement of the member 29 when the bucket swings into loading position, the horizontal simultaneously, when the gate opens the mouth of the bucket is in position before the discharge chute, and when the bucket swings back the gate follows and closes the opening. The guides at the top of the bale are always in engagement with the track but when the bucket is loading the guides 25 are clear thereof and I therefore provide a deflector member ,31 which will bring the guides into proper position to embrace the track when the bucket is being raised, this deflector is secured to the wall of the pit in any approved manner, or the ends of the tracks can be curved if desired.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, when the gate is in closed position the socket 15 is in proper position to receive the portion 21 of the bearing to which the bale is attached, the socket 29 receiving the hub 27 and the grooved, path 30 the hub 28, therefore when the bucket is lowered it will swing with the socket 29 as an axis, the portion 21 of the bearing engaging the gate and the hub 28 following the grooved path 30, the member 22 straddling the side or legs of the gate, the weight of the bucket and the pivoting point naturally swinging it in the, proper direction. After receiving the load the bucket is raised, the bearing 21 binding on the edge of the socket 15 and swinging it to original position, the roller member 10 enters the path formed in the deflector plate, tilting the bucket which swivels about the pin 23 located near the bottom of the bucket.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple, and positive handling apparatus, automatic in its operation, and very economical to build.

That I claim is I 1. The combination with a chute, of a hoisting apparatus comprising a bucket, bale bearings thereon and a bale secured thereto, a flexible connection for raising and lowering said bucket, a support, a gate pivoted to said support and having seats formed therein adapted to're'ceive the bale bearings, hubs on the'bucket, and seats in the support adapted to receive said hub to allow the bucket to swing into loading position with relation to the chute.

2. The combination with a chute, of a hoisting apparatus comprising a bucket, a flexible connection for raising and lowering said bucket, a stationary support, and a gate pivotally connected thereto, seats in said gate, and said support engaged by portions of the bucket, whereby the gate and the bucket will swing on the same common axis and into loading position with relation to the chute.

8. The combination with a chute, of a hoisting apparatus comprising a bucket, a flexible connection for raising and lowering said bucket, bale hearings on the bucket and a bale secured thereto, a track, guides on the bale for engaging said track, a support and a gate pivoted thereto and having sockets therein adapted to receive the bale bearing, hubs secured to the bucket near the bottom thereof, a socket in the support having a common axis with the gate and a groove in the support for receiving the other hub.

4. The combination with a chute, of a hoisting apparatus comprising a bucket, a flexible connection for raising and lowering said bucket, a bale pivotally secured to said bucket, a bearing for the bale and a supporting member secured thereto, the opposite end being rigidly secured to the bucket near the bottom thereof, a track, guides mounted on the supporting member and the bale for engaging said track, a support, a gate pivotally secured thereto and having sockets therein adapted to receive the bale bearing, laterally extending hubs on the bucket, sockets formed in the supports in which one of the hubs is seated and a groove in the support for receiving the other hub when the bucket swings into loading position.

5. The combination with a chute of a hoisting apparatus comprising a bucket, a flexible connection for raising and lowering said bucket, a bale pivotally secured thereto, a bearing therefor, a supporting member, one end of which is rigidly secured to the bucket on one side of the vertical axis and near the bottom thereof, the opposite end being secured to the bale bearing, guides revoluably mounted on the supporting member and the bale, a support, a gate pivotally connected thereto, sockets in the gate adapted to receive the bale bearing, laterally extending hubs secured to the bucket near the bottom thereof, and a socket formed in the support having a common axis with the gate and adapted to receive one of said hubs, an arcuate groove or way also formed in the support to accommodate the other hub when the bucket swings on the first mentioned hub.

6. The combination with a chute, of a hoisting apparatus comprising a bucket, a flexible connection for raising ,and lowering said bucket, a bale pivotally secured thereto bearings therefor, a supporting member secured to and spaced from the bucket near the bottom and on one side of the vertical axis thereof, a track, and guides pivotally secured to the bale and supporting member for engaging said track, a support having a gate pivotally secured thereto, sockets in the gate adapted to receive the bale bearing, laterally extending hubs on the bucket near the bottom thereof, a socket in the support having common axis with the gate and adapted to receive one of the hubs, a groove or way also formed in the support for receiving the other hub when the bucket swings into loading position, and a stop secured to the bucket for limiting the swing thereof.

7. The combination with a chute of a hoisting apparatus comprising a bucket, a flexible connection for raising and lowering said bucket bale bearings carried thereby and, a bale pivoted thereto, a support, a gate pivoted to the support and having spaced apart side members adapted to receive the bucket between them, sockets in said members for receiving the bale bearing, laterally projecting hubs rigid on the bucket, sockets in the supports adapted to receive one pair of hubs and arcuate ways also integral with the support to accommodate the other hubs when the bucket swings to loading position.

8. The combination with a chute of a hoisting apparatus comprising a bucket bale bearings formed therein, a flexible connection for raising andv lowering said bucket, supporting members spaced from the'bucket one end being secured to the bale bearing, the opposite end being secured to the bucket to one side of the vertical center thereof, and a bale pivoted to the bucket at the vertical center thereof, a track, guides pivoted to the supporting member and the bale for engaging said track, a support having a gate pivoted thereto, means on the bucket for positively engaging the said support and gate to allow them to simultaneously swing downwardly, means for limiting the movement of the gate, and means for automatically holding it in closed position.

9. The combination with a chute of a hoisting apparatus comprising a bucket bale bearings formed therein, a flexible connection for raising and lowering said bucket, a strap member secured to the halo bearing and the bucket and spaced from the said bucket, a bale hinged to the bucket, a track, and guides mounted on said bale and strap member for engaging said tracks, 'a support and a gate pivoted thereto, said gate having spaced apart side members adapted to receive the bucket between them, and sockets thereon for receiving the bale bearing, laterally projecting hubs rigid on the bucket, and a socket in the support for receiving one of the hubs, and about which the bucket is adapted to swing, a stop for limiting the. swing of the gate, and a deflector on the end of the track for bringing the guide into position to engage the track.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ZENAS E. COLBY. 

